Liverpool Reject Cole Has His Sights Set on Spurs: Is He Aiming Too High?

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - JULY 16: Joe Cole of Liverpool in action during the pre-season friendly match between Malaysia and Liverpool at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on July 16, 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

At times you can't help but feel sorry for Joe Cole. Chelsea didn't require his services and he ended up at Liverpool on a free transfer where he his career has taken a nose dive.

At other times, especially when as normal folk we struggle to pay our bills, we find it impossible to empathise. Here is a player earning the sort of money we could only dream of for a position that has delivered none of the talent and results initially promised.

I do believe that Cole has not been given the best chance to succeed. The sending off in his first league game for the club set a nasty precedent with a batch of average performances that he has been unable to recover from.

Understandably Kenny Dalglish has brought in alternative midfielders and wingers who he believes can bring more to the Kop. In doing so he is leaving Cole so far removed from the starting eleven and as the new season begins even the bench.

Yet you feel he at least deserves another shot at proving all of his critics wrong. Maybe up until now his early disappointments at Anfield have been unfairly holding him back. Was he dismissed too easily after his early exploits failed to capture the imagination of the Anfield faithful? Possibly so.

Yesterday the Daily Mirror reported that the out of favour Cole is wishing upon a hook up with one of his favourite managers-Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, and ESPN says Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is interested. Spurs may be in the market for finding a replacement should Luca Modric exit White Hart Lane before the transfer window ends.

This may just be the resolution that Joe Cole and Liverpool need. Liverpool would not be paying extravagant wages for a player they do not believe in and Cole would face greater opportunities for first team action.

Yet to be slightly harsh on the England player, is he setting his sights a little to high? Obviously we all know of what he was capable of producing at his promising days at Stamford Bridge.

Yet after a season out of regular competitive action, and with his credentials in tatters would a move to Spurs not just prolong the agony of a player who has lost his spark? If he were to join Spurs he may only continue along the frustrating path of mediocrity that has befallen upon his name.

Maybe it is in his own interests for him to either stick it out at Liverpool, by attempting to earn the respect of his manager and the fans.

Or alternatively achieving a place at a team like QPR could be the answer. A proposed loan spell could allow him to display the determination and talent required to bring his career back into focus.

He may be stubborn in taking a cut in his wages. But anyone in a position who knows they are being paid more than they deserve should be willing take a dent to their pride if they want to further their individual status.

Obviously football can be all about the greed and Cole may reject such an eventuality. If he gains an opportunity tonight against Exeter then he could just show the likes of Spurs what he can and would do for them.

If not then he must decide what will benefit himself in the long run, as opposed to contemplating a short term fix that could do little to further his life span in the Premiership.